Vehicle Just Ahead Of UN Aid Convoy Hit

Vehicle Just Ahead Of UN Aid Convoy In Lebanon Hit During Israeli Air Strike

New York, Aug 6 2006

A vehicle just ahead of a United Nations humanitarian aid convoy in Lebanon was hit today during an air strike by the Israeli Defence Forces (IDF), the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) reported.

During the incident, which occurred just north of Tyre, "the two occupants of the vehicle were killed," OCHA said in an update. "There were no injuries to the four UN staff accompanying the convoy or damage to convoy vehicles."

According to the update, the UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) estimates that some 4,000 displaced Lebanese and others arrive in Syria every day. Of those, some 1,600 proceed to other destinations abroad, while some 1,000 return to Lebanon, OCHA said, estimating the net daily influx at 1,400 per day. The Syrian Government reports that there are now some 180,000 'persons of concern' in Syria.

UNHCR is working with the UN Development Programme and the Lebanese authorities to facilitate the registration of internally displaced persons (IDPs). According to the UN Children's Fund (UNICEF), some 8,000 children in 80 of the 144 IDP centers have been vaccinated against measles and 3,000 against polio.

The World Health Organization (WHO) is currently delivering a large quantity of donated drugs from Jordan to Zahle in the Bekaa Valley. A UN convoy of six trucks of essential drugs and water have been delivered to Tyre hospital, where some 200 people are sheltering.

UNICEF sent three trucks of bottled water, containing a total of 30,000 litres today in a convoy destined for Tyre. The agency also sent 100 family water kits, 47 cartons of essential drugs, 200 cartons of feminine hygiene supplies and 200 cartons of diapers. The UN Population Fund (UNFPA) has provided an additional 2,000 hygiene kits, especially to assist women and girls in Lebanon IDP communities.

ENDS

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